Otis man convicted of 2011 rape of 5-year-old girl

PITTSFIELD -- An Otis man was found guilty by a Berkshire Superior Court jury Monday of raping a 5-year-old girl and is being held without the right to bail pending sentencing, the Berkshire Eagle reported.

According to prosecutors, Hyland raped the girl as the two walked to an access point to a beach on Hayre Island Road near the Otis Reservoir the summer of 2011. Hyland then warned the girl not to tell anyone about what happened.

The jury deliberated six hours after the five-day trial and found Hyland guilty of rape of a child with force, intimidating a witness and open and gross lewdness.

The girl did not tell anyone of the assault until about five years later when she wrote a note to her mother detailing Hyland's crimes.

Hyland is scheduled for sentencing May 24, when he faces a potential life sentence.